Record F-35 deliveries muscle up American allies in the Asia-Pacific region
US aerospace executive tells a media briefing at the Singapore Airshow that regional operators will have 300 units by 2035
Steve Sheehy, aeronautics vice-president of international business development, made the prediction during a media briefing in which he cited the “emergence of threat” in the region and the “game-changing” interoperability achieved by US allies.
Sheehy said there was a “very strong” partnership with the four major US regional allies that are operating the F-35 – Australia, Japan, Singapore and South Korea.
Japan and Singapore have ordered both the F-35A, a conventional take-off and landing variant that uses traditional runways, and F-35B vertical landing variants designed for amphibious ships and austere sites, he said.
According to Sheehy, Tokyo is projected to become the second-largest operator of the F-35 in the world after the US. That position was held last year by Australia, with 72 units, while South Korea is operating 40 F-35As and looking to add five to 20 more jets.